Charles Kuralt America’S Beloved Storyteller by Michelle Cerulli
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North Carolinians of note Charles Kuralt America’s beloved storyteller By Michelle Cerulli Tucked away on the second floor of write books, fund- Carroll Hall, home of the School of raise for different Journalism and Mass Communication causes and speak at at UNC-Chapel Hill, is a treasure of events. American journalism history. He died from com- It’s a replica of the New York City plications of lupus penthouse office where journalism at age 62 on July 4, legend Charles Kuralt spent his later 1997, a fitting date years. The Kuralt Learning Center— for a person who complete with mahogany bookshelves, devoted much of his Courtesy of the N.C. Collection, UNC-Chapel Hill his desk, fireplace and a large collection life to telling Amer- of his books—is a three-dimensional ica’s stories. He is buried in the cem- as Kerr Jr. Distinguished Professor. snapshot of his working life. etery on his beloved UNC-Chapel Hill The center is frequently used as a Widely known as the first face of campus with his wife Suzanna “Petie” conference room for special meetings, CBS News’ Sunday Morning program, Kuralt. small seminars and graduate student Kuralt enjoyed a successful career in Two days before his death, Kuralt had oral exams. An ever-growing guest- print and broadcast journalism for written a letter to former UNC system book rests on the large oval table in the about 40 years. Twelve of his 13 Em- President Bill Friday, asking if there middle of the room. mys and three Peabody awards line was space for him in the UNC cemetery. “I think he would have really liked the Kuralt Center’s bookshelves. The Friday assured Kuralt there would be a the Charles Kuralt Center being here,” thirteenth Emmy sits in a glass case place for him. Kuralt’s letter to Friday Cole said. in the main lobby of Carroll Hall. His is framed and on display in the center Lois Cranford, a 1945 alumna of UNC commencement robes and honorary along with a photo of blooming daf- and lifelong admirer of Kuralt, is one of degrees can be found in the center. His fodils on his grave. A daffodil breeder the center’s two docents. She and Mari- eyeglasses are still on his desk. Kuralt met on his travels specifically lyn Bilpuch, also a UNC alumna, over- Kuralt was born in Wilmington in bred a species of daffodil for him. see the centers open hours from 2 to 4 1934. The writing bug bit him early. He After Kuralt’s death, in 1998, Petie p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. They wrote for his junior high school news- Kuralt offered to give the contents of are eager to tell Kuralt’s story and the paper and announced sports games as her husband’s penthouse office suite rich history of the center. a teenager. He attended UNC-Chapel to the school. At the time, the journal- “He had this wonderful, booming Hill, where he served as editor of The ism school was moving from Howell voice and perfect diction,” said Cran- Daily Tar Heel, the student newspaper. Hall to its new home in Carroll. Karen ford, who can effortlessly detail the His first job after college was writing Beckers, Kuralt’s assistant and CBS col- milestones of Kuralt’s life. “Anything human interest pieces for The Char- league, and Richard Cole, then dean of he wrote was beautifully done. He lotte News. the school, led the project. found interesting things in everybody.” In 1957, Kuralt joined the ranks of Generous donations by UNC alumni Kuralt Learning Center, UNC-CH, School of CBS, where he enjoyed a 37-year career Gene and Saralyn Oberdorfer and Jim Journalism and Mass Communication of everything from general-assignment Babb and many other friends and col- TV news to radio news commentary to leagues of the legendary journalist Latin America correspondence. made the Kuralt Center a reality. The The Kuralt Center is open to visitors from 2 In 1967, Kuralt began his notable project raised $150,000, and the center to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Special “On the Road” series for CBS Evening opened in 1999. An impressive brass arrangements for groups can be made as News. The segment featured him trav- plaque listing the names of the project’s well. Docent Lois Cranford can be reached eling across the country to bring un- donors hangs by the entrance of the at [email protected]. told, often folksy stories of American center, which is near the Park Library life to viewers at home. After 13 years on the second floor of Carroll Hall. with the show, Kuralt moved on to be- “It is a rich treasure of one of the best Profile written by a student in the School come host of CBS’s Sunday Morning. broadcast journalists our country has of Journalism and Mass Communication, Kuralt retired from CBS in 1994 to ever produced,” said Cole, John Thom- UNC-CH. Provided by the N.C. Press Foundation, www.ncpress.com..